Well-casing-centering device



.lime 24, 1930.

"A n mm? R. C. BAKER WELL GASING CENTERING DEVICE Filed Jan. 51. 1928 INVENToR. @elm/ @a/w" TTORNEYS.

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT l'OFFICE REUBEN c. BAKER, or coALINGA, CALIFORNIA, AssIeNoR To BAKER oIL Toots, INC., A1. CORPORATION or CALIFORNIA f WELL-CASING-CENTERING DEVICE Application led January 31, 1928. Serial No.250,830.

`tom of the casing upwardly around the casing to iill the space between the. latter and the sides of the bore. Oft times the casing does not properly center in the hole but assumes an eccentric position therein -and bears against one side thereof. This usually y prevents properly cementing in of the casing, particularly, when the hole is filled with heavy drilling mud, as the cement has insuicient force to displace all of the mud* and consequently cannot entirely envelop the casing. Therefore, the cement channels through the mud during its upward travel, leaving the casing encased partially in mud and partially in cement. This is unsatis- A factory as thereis nothing to prevent the mud from running down into .the bore, pers mitting water from upper formationsn to flow into the bore unobstructed. v It is the principal object of the 'present invention tol overcome this disadvantage in prior practice by providing simple apparatus capable of retaining the casing centered in the bore and assisting the cement'during the cementing operation to entirely envelop the casing. 'L I .In carrying out the invention into practice, I provide a centering apparatus which is carried by the casing and engages the sides of the bore to hold the casing centered therein and spaced from the sides of the bore. The apparatus permits the filling of the space between the casing andthe bore and aids vin the cementing operation by assisting the cement in enveloping the casin path, so that it will casing. v

One form which the invention may as# sume is exemplified inthe following description and illustrated by way of example entirely surround .the

' plan.

by causlng the cement to travel in a spira l in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in section through a -well bore disclosing a casing therein upon which m'y improved apparatus is assembled. i

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through a well casing disclosing lmy improved device assembled thereon and .illustrating it in Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device. 60

Referring more particularly tothe accompanying drawings, 10 indicates the bore of a deep well wherein a well casing 11 is disposed. Arranged on the casing is a plurality of centering devices indicated by the/65 numeral 12, which devices form the subject matter of the present application.

Each centering device comprises a circular member 14. having radial ribs 15 projecting inwardly therefrom at equally spaced distances apart. The circular member 14 'is formed in tw o halves, the ends of whichy are connected together as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The ribs 15are arranged spirally with respect to the longitudinal .axis of the device, so that when the centering device is arranged on a well casing the ribs will engage the periphery thereof, holding the circular member concentrically .with respectto the casing and forming a plurality of spirally disposed passageways 16 between the circular member and the casing. v

Itis intended .that lthe diameter of the circular member be substantially the same as that of the well bore so that the circular member will engage the sides of the bore and maintain the well casing substantially centered therein. n

Extending through each rib 15 of the device is a screw 17 utilized to secure the centering device lon the casing.

It will be noticed that the exterior surface of the circular member is rounded longitudinally thereof, so that it -will pass downwardly into the ybore easily.

In operation of the device, centering guides are constructed as illustrated in the drawings and a series of them are arranged Y 'at spaced distances apart on the casing as 100 the latter is lowered into the hole. Theexterior surfaces of these devices will enga e the 4well bore and maintain the casing su stantially centered therein.

After the casing has been lowered to position in the hole, cement is ejected from a point at or adjacent its lower end and caused to travel upwardly between the casing and the sides of the bore. As the cement passes through the passageways 16, it will be given a spiral movement to cause it to completely envelop the casing. Thisl spiral movement of the cement will be caused by the spirally arranged passageways between the circular member and the casing and the spiral ribs.

It is obvious from the fore oing that I have provided simple means or overcoming the disadvantages of prior methods by holding the casing properly centered in the hole and asssisting the cement in completely envelopingthe casing.

While I have shown thepreferred form of my invention, itA is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construcytion by those skilled in'the'art without departing from the spirit of the invention as deiined in the appended claims.

`Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a member adapted to be xed on the exterior of a well casing and engage the sides of a well bore to maintain the casing spaced from the sides of the bore, said member having spirally formed passageways formed therethrough to assist cemen titious material in enveloping the casing, l

said member being formed in separable parts whereby it may be assembled and clamped on a well casing. s

2. A device of the character described comprising a circular member of a diameter larger than the exterior diameter of the casing, radial ribs carried by the member and projecting inwardly to engage the exterior surface of the casing to dispose said member concentrically of the casing, said member being formed in separable parts whereby it may be assembled and clamped on a well casing.

3. A device of the character described comprising a circular member of a diameter larger than the exterior diameter of the casing, radial ribs carried by theamember and projecting-inwardly to engage the exterior surface of the casing to dispose .saidv member concentrically of the casing, said ribs being arran ed at an angle to the axis of the casing to orm' spiral passageways'between the casing and member to assist cementitious material passing along the well boreto completely envelo the casing, and means securing said mem er to the casing.

REUBEN C. BAKER. 

